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Separation anxiety

Separation anxiety is the number one reason, directly or indirectly, that dogs get handed into shelters and pounds, surrendered to rescue, and even put down -- it is the source of the behaviour problems that make owners give up on their dog, even thugh there are some basic and easy ways to get a well adjusted and confident dog fron the start that will be able to be alone for periods without going crazy. Like all training efforts of any value, it WILL take your commitment and time though, and WILL involve some costs to accommodate your life and a dog's -- because with dog ownership, you take responsibility for a very social animal that cannot be left alone for hours on end with nothing to do, and no toilet breaks. The answer? Some structure, some training, a boredom-free environment, and if possible, a bit of companionship to break up the day (a dog walker, a trip to doggie daycare, a trip home by you at lunch to walk and play with your dog).

Here are a series of articles on what separation anxiety is and how to train your dog to accept being alone without being distressed.

Dogs are great companions because they become so attached to people. But that
attachment sometimes backfires in the form of “separation anxiety”. What is “separation
anxiety”? Simply put, separation anxiety is your dog’s negative response to you leaving
him. Most dogs do not become anxious when left alone. They just curl up for a nap and
await your return. However some dogs do exhibit adverse behaviors indicating separation
anxiety. These range from excessive barking to household destruction to inappropriate
elimination. These dogs are not acting out of spite or anger. They are just distressed by
separation from “their people”.

Desensitizing Your Dog to Separation

If your dog exhibits signs of separation anxiety you must work to desensitize him to
separation. This means changing the sequence of behaviors or cues you give before you
actually leave. In preparing to change your cues do the following:
1. Write down exactly what you do when you get ready to leave the house.
2. Observe your dog carefully and identify when in the getting-ready-to-leave sequence
he begins to show anxiety.
3. Begin your desensitization program on a weekend so you have at least one to two
days to begin reconditioning your dog.
4. Do not leave your dog alone until he has shown obvious improvement. Take him to
work, hire a pet sitter or leave him with a friend. (Your dog must not be left alone
during this desensitizing process.) Which my take a month or more depending on
your dog an you.
Reconditioning the Meaning of Your “Getting-Ready-to-Leave” Cues.
(The reconditioning program is based on changing your dog’s reaction to your cues.)
1. Begin your getting ready to leave sequence.
2. At the point where your behavior begins to cause an anxiety response (ie, panting,
pacing, whinning …) in your dog, break your “leaving” sequence and do something
completely out of the ordinary. For example, start to clean the room or fold some
clothes or sit down and read a book.Don’t continue to get ready to leave..You are now
breaking the cues.
3. When the dog is calm (maybe 5 – 10 minutes) begin the getting ready to leave
sequence again. Stop the sequence when the anxiety behavior starts. Do a different
sequence of behavior (activity) until the dog is calm. You can even go play good
game of fetch. He’ll be really surprised..
4. Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3 until you can get through the entire sequence right to the door.
5. Once your getting ready to go out the door just put your hand on the door knob and
then go sit down or what ever except leave.. When you come back in be calm and
aloof. Don’t give any effusive greeting or make a fuss.Just go about your normal
house activity.
6. When you can go out and return quickly with no adverse behavior from your dog,
lengthen your time outside. Starting with seconds and working up to minutes and so
on ..Remember to bounce around with your times..from shorter to longer to shorter
again.. Get in the car and drive out of the driveway, then return. When you come
back inside, don’t acknowledge your dog until you do some small chore. Then speak
to him quietly. Be calm and aloof, don’t make a fuss.
7. Next try your entire getting-ready-to-leave sequence and go out with your dog. Take
him with you to work or a friend’s or on an errand.
8. Each morning repeat this sequence until your dog isn’t stressed by your gettingready-
to-leave behaviors.
9. Now it’s time to lengthen the amount of time you leave the house. First 2 minutes,
then 5 minutes, then 1 minute, then 10 minutes, etc. Vary the times you are gone from
shorter to longer to shorter again. Soon you will be able to leave for longer and longer
periods.

Helpful Hints

• Don’t expect too much too fast from your dog. Changing his behavior will take time
and patience. You may have to spend some vacation time on this process.Remember
this didn’t happen over night..
• Give the dog a special, long lasting treat to distract him from your absence. A marrow
bone filled with peanut butter or yogurt tastes great and will keep him busy for hours.
• Be sure your dog gets plenty of exercise when you are home.
• Try to change all your patterns with your dog. Play ball or go for walks at different
times and in different sequences.
• If you see anxiety developing in your dog, defuse it by changing the behavior pattern
you are in. Avoid patterns of your behavior that may reward your dog’s anxiety.
• Teach and practice the “stay” exercise. When he is up to a 10 minute stay, go out of
sight for a few seconds. Gradually increase the amount of time to 10 minutes.
Reward your dog for being away from you and not following you around..If he stays
lieing down while your someplace elce toss him a treat..(don’t call him to you)
Remember, your dog wants to please you. But he must understand what you want and
what is and is not acceptable. Your patience, consistency and love will help him modify
his behavior so as to fit appropriately into the routine of your household.

One of the best basic ways of approaching separation anxiety is to enroll in a fun, positive-rewards-based basic obedience class, or if you have done that already, continue to help build ypur dog's trust and bonding with you while also building confidence, with classes such as agility or clicker training. Basic obedience can work wonders because it helps a dog to gradually gain self confidence and learn self control that extends into all areas of life, not just the moment when you say 'sit'. Thus such a class is especially helpful for rescue dogs which often have separation anxiety problems, at least initially in the uncertainty of a new home.